Track records falling faster than usual

BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) – When Joey Logano posted a lap of 203.949 mph in Sprint Cup qualifying Friday, it marked the 13th time this season that a track record was broken.

NASCAR officials said Saturday that the number of records broken so far is higher than a typical season. In 2012, only nine track marks were eclipsed.

Pat Suhy, Chevrolet Racing NASCAR group manager, said much of the credit goes to the new “Generation 6″ car that Chevrolet, Toyota and Ford are using for the first time in 2013.

“Fundamentally, it’s a better race car,” Suhy said. “It’s a better platform for a race car than the Gen-5 car was. It has more downforce, the front-to-rear balance is more suitable to what it takes to go faster on the track, and Goodyear has worked pretty hard on tires to match the added level of downforce and the increased speeds that come with it.

“Track records are being broken, but across the garage everyone is going faster.”

During Friday’s qualifying at Michigan, 25 of the 44 drivers had laps of over 200 mph.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)